Dispensing apparatus



Feb. 6, 1940. WARD 2,189,643

DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ira/671,602: .Zauwrence J? wara,

Feb. 6, 1940. j WARD 2,189,643

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 25,1956. ZSheets-Shex 2 I -4 Ma gy 4 Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING APPARATUS Lawrence '1. Ward, New York, N. Y.

Application'ADrll 25, loss, Serial No. 16,445 12 Claims. sac-cs) This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a dispensing device of general application, wherein a source of gas pressure is provided and controlled, as desired, to cause portions of fluid within a supply tank to be forced therefrom.

The main object 01' the invention is to provide a. dispensing device that is associated with a high pressure carbon dioxide container known to the trade as a "sparklet bulb" which is utilized as a source of gas pressure to dispense a liquid.

Another object is to provide a--unitary piercing pin and discharge valve that is arranged to be supported in position to pierce a carbon dioxide bulb, but which may be readily removed from its support to permit substitution or placement of a new valve and pin unit.

Another object is to provide a unitary piercing pin and discharge valve that is provided at one end with apiercing pin and at the opposite end with a valve operating rod whereby the unit may be positioned to permit the pin thereof to engage v a carbon dioxide bulb and the valve rod thereof to be engaged directly by a manually operable valve operating plunger. 5% Another object is to provide a dispensing apparatus wherein small, portions of a source of gas under pressure may be released as desired and utilize such portions to dispense or discharge I a portion of fluid from a main fluid supply tank. Another object is to provide a dispensing device that is simple in construction and comprised of a minimum of parts whereby such parts may be assembled or replaced in a minimum of time and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These and further objects will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in section of a dispensing a) unit;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section showing a piercing pin and discharge valve unit associated with a C02 bulb holder;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a pin and valve 5 unit and the supporting parts therefor showing allparts detached to permit replacement of a pin and valve unit;

Fig. 4 is a view in section of a compression operated pin and valve unit;

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of a compression operated unit;

Fig. 6 is a modification showing a tension operated unit;

Fig. 7 is a further modification showing a ro- 55 tary operated unit; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of a valve operating plunger.

According to the prior art and practice, liquid dispensing devices that make use of the well 00 known CO: bulb as a source of gas pressure have been provided with a piercing pin for the bulb and some form of check valve has been employed to close the gas port in the pin in a manner to permit and require that the entire gas content of the bulb be discharged at one instant into the 6 liquid supply tank and permit removal of the bulb. In such type of dispenser, a high gas pressure exists at all times within the supply tank which, obviously, necessitates that the tank and associated parts, including valvecontrols, be de- I signed to withstand such high pressure which results in the use of expensive materials, added weight, high cost of production and increased cost of repair and adjustments. In such type of dispense also, material loss of gas pressure 15 occurs at various points even though great care is exercised to provide proper materials, joints and valves.

According to the invention herein disclosed, the gas content of the bulb, after it has been pierced, is retained within the confines of the bulb and a unitary pin and valve mechanism in a highly compressed state. When it is desired to dispense a portion of liquid, the discharge valve associated with the pin is operated manually to permit a small charge or portion only of gas to feed into the space above the liquid in the main tank or in an amount sufiicient to force a desired portion of liquid from this tank. As a result, an ample discharge of liquid may 89 be secured with a relativelylow pressure of gas exerted upon the liquid in the tank. It is sumcient, therefore, to design the fluid tank and related parts to withstand a relative low gas pressure which results in a material saving in with an operating plunger which functions also to control the gas releasing valve.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a liquid tank I formed from metal, glass or any desired material, is shown as detachably secured by a a5 iscrew connection 2 to a dispensing head 3. A

gasket 8 provides a gas tight seal between parts I and 3. As an example oi. one form of dispenser, an atomizing type has been shown wherein a common form of discharge pipe and unit 5 may be used to feed liquid to a port 6. A small orifice 5' is made in one tube of unit 5 near its upper end and a fluid inlet port 5" serves to feed fluid to the other tube. A bulb holder 1 receives .a bulb 8 and may be rotated to force the bulb against a piercing pin 9. As will be described further on in detail, the pin 9 is formed as a unit It with a discharge valve II which is secured to and operable by a valve rod I2. A dispensing lever I3 is pivoted at H to the head 3. co

The lever I3 is arranged to engage within a yoke or slot I5 formed on one end of a valve operating plunger I5. A piston valve I1 is secured to the other end of plunger I3 by a screwthread connection. The valve I1 is slidably mounted within a bore I8 formed in head 3.

A pair of gaskets or packing rings I9, 23 is arranged on the valve I! to provide a gas tight fit between valve I1 and bore I3. A valvejacing 2I of rubber or the like is positioned to engage a valve seat 22 adapted to engage in one position and close the inner end of a fluid outlet port 23 which leads to the forward or fitting end 24 of the head 3, which end is shown as threaded for attachment to any desired type of delivery tube. A screw plug 25 is provided to force a gasket 25 into a gas tight engagement with the plunger I5 to prevent leakage around the plunger as it slides within the head 3. A strong compression spring 21 is positioned between the valve I1 and a shoulder 28 formed on the unit I3 and functions to retain the valve I1 and lever I3 at their extreme left hand position, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that, in this position, the valve I1 is forced into firm engagement with the seat 22 to prevent delivery of fluid to the port 23.

The plunger I5, when moved inwardly by the lever I3, may engage the valve rod I2 and open the gas release valve II to permit a quantity of gas to flow from the bulb 3 into the bore I3 but to the right hand or inner end of thvalve I1 from whence this gas may flow through a small port 29 into the tank I.

It will be noted that the pin and valve unit III, the valve I1 and the plunger I5 are mounted in axial alignment within the bore I3. and that the initial movement of the plunger I5 to the right will first open the outlet port 23 and, upon further movement, engage valve rod I2 to open the gas discharge valve II to permit gas to feed into tanke I. Upon release of lever I3, the spring 21 will close the port 23 to cut oil fluid delivery. The lever I3 and valve I1 may be moved to open the port 23 to dispense the liquid intermittently as long as sumcient gas pressure remains within the tank I.

The piercing pin and valve unit I5 is shown in detail in Fig, 4 and comprises a casing 33 to which is firmly secured the pin 9. A gas port 3I is formed in the pin and closed end of the casing. A gas release valve unit 32 is detachably mounted within the casing and is held in position by a screw plug 33 threaded into the open end of the casing. A valve tube 34 having a flared end 35 is held in flrm engagement with casing 39 by means of the plug 33 which forces the flared end against a tapered shoulder 35 formed on casing.3lI. The flared end 35 may be faced with a resilient material to provide a gas tight connection. The valve II is secured to the rod I2 which passes through a port or bore 31 in plug 33 and V a port 33 in tube 34. A compression spring 39 the tube 34.

is secured at one end to a lug 43 formed on the rod I2 and its other end engages a shoulder 4| formed on the tube 34. The valve I I acts as a check valve to retain gas 'within the casing 33 and engages a seat 42 formed on the closed end of by the plunger I5 will uncover the port 33 and compress the spring 33 and release of the rod I2 will permit the spring 39 to close the valve II and p rt 33.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, the unit I3 is positioned in the bore I3 with its flanged shoulder 43 engaged with the inner edge 44 of the bore.

A bulb neck washer 45 is retained in position against the unit III by means of a threaded collar 45. The bulb neck is forced within a tapered opening 41 in this washer in a manner to provide a gas tight seal around this neck. The pin and valve unit may be removed and replaced with a new unit with extreme facility as indicated in Fig. 3 by merely withdrawing the collar 43 and washer 45 which permits withdrawal of the unit I0 from the bore I8.

In the modified form shown in Fig, 5, a valve casing 48 is shown as closed at one end by a threaded flanged plug 49 which carries a piercing pin 59. A valve operating rod 5I carries a valve 52, the washer 53 of which is arranged to engage and close a gas port 54 through which the rod 5| passes. A compression spring 55 is provided to assist in retaining the valve 52 on its seat, the pressure of this spring being additive to the pressure exerted by any gas within the casing 43. The rod 5| is adapted to be operated in a manner similar to the valve rod I2 of Fig. 4.

The modified valve and pin unit 55 shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that in Fig. 5 except as to the type of valve. In this figure, the valve 51 is tension operated, there being a strong tension spring 53 arranged to exert a strong pressure on the valve 51 to force the same against a seat 59 in a manner to close the gas port 53. When such a tension operated type of valve is used, means will be provided on the dispensing device to move the valve rod 5I against the tension of spring 53 to unseat the valve 51.

A rotary type of valve is shown in Fig. 7, wherein a valve 52 may be forced with great pressure against a seat 53 to close a gas port 34 by means of a valve operating rod 55 which is threadably engaged within a bore 55 formed in one endof the valve casing 51. The valve 52 is mounted upon the end of the rod 55 by means of a swivel joint 53. The valve 52 is seated by rotation of the rod 55. Any gas released by the valve 52 may leave the casing 51 through a port 59.

In operation, a gas bulb 3 is placed within the holder 1 and the latter is rotated to cause the pin 9 to pierce the bulb seal and permit gas under pressure to flow into casing 30. The lever l3 may be moved towards the tank I until the plunger I5 contacts the valve rod I2 to unseat the valve II and permit a small quantity of gas to pass ports 33, 31 and 29 into the tank I whereupon fluid will be forced out through ports 5 and 23 in the form of a spray. Delivery of fluid may be suspended by release of lever I3, whereupon the spring 21 will force valve I1 against its seat 22 to close outlet port 23. Lever I3 may be operated to dispense fluid as long as suflicient pressure remains in tank I and pressure therein may be restored by an extreme movement of the lever I3 to permit the plunger I5 to operate the gas release valve II When the valve II or pin 9 becomes defective from constant use of the device, a new unit may be installed by simply removing the holder 1, collar 45 and gasket 45, whereupon the spring 21 will eject the old unit III from the opening I3 and a new unit may be inserted in its stead with a new gasket 45 and be retained in operative posi- Movement of the rod I2, however,

tion by replacement of the collar 45.

What I claim is:

1. A dispensing device comprising a discharge head and a fluid reservoir, a chamber extending through the body of said head, a carbon dioxide capsule supported adjacent one end of said chamber, a piercing pin for the capsule detachably supported within said chamber, a valve rod positioned axially within said chamber, a fluid outlet port, a piston on said rod, valve means operably associated with said piston and rod and movable simultaneously therewith for controlling said port, means for moving said rod, and a pair of fluid conducting ports extending from said chamber on opposite sides of said piston to said reservoir.

2. A dispensing device comprising a discharge head and a fluid reservoir, said head being provided with a cylindrical bore, a carbon dioxide capsule supported adjacent one end of said bore, a capsule piercing pin detachably supported within said bore adjacent said capsule, a gas release valve associated with said pin and arranged to cut off flow of gas from the capsule, a plunger positioned within said bore and extending through the other end of the bore, said valve being operable to open position by engagement of said plunger therewith, means to operate said plunger, and a gas port extending from said bore to said reservoir.

3. A dispensing device comprising a discharge head and a fluid reservoir, said head being provided with a chamber extending longitudinally thereof, a carbon dioxide capsule supported adjacent one end of said chamber, a valve casing positioned within said chamber, a tubular piercing pin secured to one end of said casing adjacent said capsule support, a valve secured within said casing, a valve operating member in said casing and having its free operating end extending from the other end of the casing, a valve operating plunger within said chamber, a control lever pivotally secured, to said head, said plunger being operably associated with said lever at one end and having its other end positioned adjacent the free end of the valve operating member.

4. In a dispensing device as set forth in claim 3, a fluid discharge port formed in said head and a valve member secured to the valve operating plunger adjacent one end of the port and being movable by the-plunger to open and close said port.

5. A dispensing device comprising a head and a fluid reservoir, said head being provided with a cylindrical opening, a valve casing detachably supported within said opening, a valve within said casing, a tubular piercing pin extending from one end of said casing and a valve operating rod extending from the valve, means for supporting a compressed gas capsule adjacent said pin, a valve operating means movably secured to said head, and means positioned within said opening and being operable by said valve operating means for controlling said rod, said valve casing valve and pin being removable in assembled condition from the opening upon removal of a capsule.

6. A dispensing device comprising a head and a fluid reservoir, said head being provided with a longitudinally extended chamber, a fluid discharge port formed in said head, a valve operating plunger extending axially within said chamber, a valve on said plunger in position to engage one end of said port, a compressed gas bulb support secured to said head in alignment with said chamber, a casing positioned within said opening, a piercing pin extending from one end of said casing adjacent said bulb support, a valve in said casing, and a valve operating rod extending from said last named valve to a position adjacent one end of the plunger.

7. A dispensing device comprising a discharge head and a fluid reservoir, said head being provided with a chamber extending therewithin, a carbon dioxide capsule supported adjacent one end of said chamber, a valve casing removably positioned within said chamber, a tubular piercing pin on one end of said casing adjacent a supported capsule, a gas control valve carried by and mounted within said casing, a valve operating rod within said chamber, one end of said rod being positioned closely adjacent the gas control valve whereby movement of the rod toward the valve will open the valve, and means for manually operating the other end of said rod.

8. In a dispensing device as set forth in claim 7, a fluid discharge port, a valve for closing off communication between said port and fluid reservoir and being operable by the valve operating rod, movement of the valve operating rod a predetermined distance in one direction being operable first to open said last-named valve to dispense fluid, the valve operating member in the valve casing being movable by further movement of said rod in the same direction to open the gas control valve and permit additional gas to feed from the capsule to the fluid reservoir.

9. In a device as set forth in claim 7, a retaining means for holding said valve casing within the chamber, said valve casing, gas control valve and piercing pin being removable in assembled relation upon removal of the retaining means.

10. In a device as set forth in claim 7, an abutmenton the valve operating rod, a spring within the chamber, one end of said spring being positioned in contact with said abutment to force the rod normally away from the gas control valve, the other end of said spring engaging the gas control valve casing, means to retain the casing within the chamber, said spring being efiective to eject the valve casing upon removal of the retaining means therefor.

11. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 2, a piston on the plunger fitted into the bore, a second gas port leading from the bore to said reservoir, said piston being movable between the two gas ports, a fluid discharge port, and means movable in response to movement of said plunger for opening and closing said discharge port.

12. A piercing pin and valve unit for a dispensing head comprising a cylindrical casing adapted to be removably positioned within a correspondingly shaped opening formed in said head, said casing being symmetricalin shape on opposite sides of all planes passing through the axis of said pin, a tubular piercing pin permanently se cured to one end of said casing and opening into the casing, a valve and a valve seat positioned within said casing and arranged to control flow of gas through the casing, a valve operating rod, one end of said rod being operably associated with said valve, the other end thereof extending from said valve in a direction opposite to that of the piercing pin to a point adjacent the other end of said casing, a closure for the other end of the casing forming a guide member, said member having an opening therein, said rod being loosely fitted within said opening whereby to permit gas to pass from the valve and casing between the rod and the guide.

LAWRENCE T. WARD. 

